"Staircase linked to 'Sex and the City' fame now barriers-off by homeowners"
In the heart of New York City's West Village, a quiet street has been transformed into a bustling tourist attraction. The four-story brownstone, famous for its appearance in the iconic TV series "Sex and the City," has been a pilgrimage site for millions of fans worldwide. However, the real owners of the building, the Lorbers, have had enough.
The Lorbers, who bought the property in 1979 for $131,350 (equivalent to about $585,000 today), allowed a young film scout to use their Perry Street house for an HBO series in the 1990s, not knowing it would change their lives for two decades. The series, based on Candace Bushnell's book of the same name, followed the love lives of Carrie, Charlotte, Samantha, and Miranda for six years.
The success of the series continued with the films "Sex and the City" (2008) and "Sex and the City 2" (2010), as well as the now-cancelled spin-off series "And Just Like That..." on HBO Max. The fame of the building's steps, where Carrie Bradshaw often sat, has been a testament to the enduring impact of "Sex and the City" on popular culture.
Every day, tourists flock to the supposed address of Carrie Bradshaw, pose on the steps, and turn the quiet West Village street into a chaos of selfie sticks and screams. This constant disruption of daily life has led the Lorbers to take a measure to protect their privacy and peace.
In January, the Lorbers applied to the city's landmarks preservation commission for permission to install an iron fence. The fence, designed by architect Isidoro Cruz and fabricated by Handco Welding, aims to reduce the chaos caused by tourists on the street. Barbara Lorber, at 80 years old, has asked for consideration from fans, requesting they do not climb into the rooms and windows while taking photos.
The fence installation is a way to restore peace to the quiet West Village street and a response to the constant disruption of daily life caused by tourists flocking to Lorber's house. The Lorbers live on the ground floor and rent out three apartments in the upper floors. Despite the initial kindness that led to this situation, Barbara Lorber now regrets her decision, expressing a desire for privacy and tranquillity in her own home.
The iron fence around Carrie Bradshaw's famous staircase serves as a reminder of the impact of "Sex and the City" on popular culture, but also as a symbol of the need for balance between public appeal and private life.
